Hebrews 11:22
I never really thought about the faith of Joseph in this way before. Again, fitting with being certain of what is unseen, Joseph looks through time to the future and asks that his bones not be buried in Egypt because he recognizes that Egypt is not his home despite his phenomenal success there and that his brothers and their descendants will possess the land that God promised to them through Abraham.
On Saturday, at Refuel, I was told by Stephen that the word "certain" in v. 1 is the same word in 2 Timothy 3:16 translated rebuke. Stephen says that this word means to be convicted. The Word of God convicts me in that it provides me with convictions (firm beliefs that transcend circumstance) and in that it reveals my sin and guilt and reminds me that I am deserving only of God's wrath. The faith of these people in Hebrews 11 is more than a certainty, it is a conviction that God will keep his promise even though everything around them indicates that it will not come true. This was certainly the case in Joseph's life. He was so convicted that Egypt was not his home that he made them promise to take his bones with them when they moved into the land promised to them.
I'm trying to think of the promises that God has given me that I need to be as convicted about. I think for me it's the promise of Christ to return to this earth. In my head I know it to be true but I think I've lost the hope of that. I don't live in anticipation of it. I don't think it's because I love earth so much - although it definitely has its moments. I can't put my finger on why this is the case.
Showing posts with label Joseph. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph. Show all posts
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
the last dreams
Matthew 2:19-23
Matthew again emphasizes dreams and visits from angels and continues to tell the story from Joseph's perspective (or at least makes Joseph the main character). In fact, Jesus continues to be referred to as "the child" and it is usually in the phrase, "the child and his mother." The only time his proper name has been used so far is in verse 1 of this chapter. I think Matthew records the angelic visions to remind his readers of the supernatural events that surrounded the birth of the child and continued to mark his life through to his resurrection. I wonder if he refers to Jesus as "the child" and constantly places him in relationship to his mother to remind his readers that he was human. Perhaps Matthew is reminding his reader that Jesus is both completely human and completely divine. Perhaps this is an attempt to build empathy for Jesus - because Jesus was such a polarizing figure, dividing families, Matthew is attempting to remind the reader that he was a child - a little boy - who had a mom and a dad. Yes, he was born in unusual, mysterious circumstances but he was not born to privilege. He was a refugee and suffered persecution from the time of his birth. Perhaps this was something that many could relate to - certainly history shows that there were large communities of Jews living in Egypt. Maybe many people knew of someone who had to flee because they had somehow incurred the wrath of Herod. (Just a reminder, these are just guesses).
Matthew again reminds the reader of how Jesus fulfilled prophecy, connecting Jesus to the prophecies regarding the Messiah. All I can say is that Matthew is lucky that he was inspired by the Spirit to connect Jesus to these prophecies - most of the professors I had in Briercrest would have failed Matthew based on his bad hermeneutics - taking phrases and verses out of context to apply them to the current situation. :)
Besides giving us permission to use bad hermeneutics, Matthew again returns to the theme of obedience. Joseph is told by an angel that he should return to Israel and in the very next verse, he takes his family to Israel. The word choices indicate that he did not wait - he got up and went. Another dream tells him not to go to Judea but to settle in Nazareth (their old home town) and Joseph does so. I feel like I am beating a dead horse but the lesson I learn from this passage is that God can be trusted and so I must obey him. I guess the issue for me is, how do I know if I am being obedient? I mean I can generally obey the principles of Scripture to love God with all I am and have (I'm still working towards obedience in that area) and to love my neighbour as myself, but what about the specifics? Did God direct me to come to EFree Lethbridge? Is he directing me to do something else? I can honestly say that I want to obey God but I haven't received any angelic visitors lately and I can't remember any particular dreams or visions that would instruct me. I know that I have prayer, the Word, the Community of Christ and the Spirit to guide and direct me but that seems a bit abstract, a bit hard to know for certain still. I've never heard an audible voice from the Spirit and the Word certainly gives me the broad principles I am to obey. I guess I just wonder why God doesn't direct my life as clearly as he did Joseph's. Or maybe he is and I just don't see it...
Matthew again emphasizes dreams and visits from angels and continues to tell the story from Joseph's perspective (or at least makes Joseph the main character). In fact, Jesus continues to be referred to as "the child" and it is usually in the phrase, "the child and his mother." The only time his proper name has been used so far is in verse 1 of this chapter. I think Matthew records the angelic visions to remind his readers of the supernatural events that surrounded the birth of the child and continued to mark his life through to his resurrection. I wonder if he refers to Jesus as "the child" and constantly places him in relationship to his mother to remind his readers that he was human. Perhaps Matthew is reminding his reader that Jesus is both completely human and completely divine. Perhaps this is an attempt to build empathy for Jesus - because Jesus was such a polarizing figure, dividing families, Matthew is attempting to remind the reader that he was a child - a little boy - who had a mom and a dad. Yes, he was born in unusual, mysterious circumstances but he was not born to privilege. He was a refugee and suffered persecution from the time of his birth. Perhaps this was something that many could relate to - certainly history shows that there were large communities of Jews living in Egypt. Maybe many people knew of someone who had to flee because they had somehow incurred the wrath of Herod. (Just a reminder, these are just guesses).
Matthew again reminds the reader of how Jesus fulfilled prophecy, connecting Jesus to the prophecies regarding the Messiah. All I can say is that Matthew is lucky that he was inspired by the Spirit to connect Jesus to these prophecies - most of the professors I had in Briercrest would have failed Matthew based on his bad hermeneutics - taking phrases and verses out of context to apply them to the current situation. :)
Besides giving us permission to use bad hermeneutics, Matthew again returns to the theme of obedience. Joseph is told by an angel that he should return to Israel and in the very next verse, he takes his family to Israel. The word choices indicate that he did not wait - he got up and went. Another dream tells him not to go to Judea but to settle in Nazareth (their old home town) and Joseph does so. I feel like I am beating a dead horse but the lesson I learn from this passage is that God can be trusted and so I must obey him. I guess the issue for me is, how do I know if I am being obedient? I mean I can generally obey the principles of Scripture to love God with all I am and have (I'm still working towards obedience in that area) and to love my neighbour as myself, but what about the specifics? Did God direct me to come to EFree Lethbridge? Is he directing me to do something else? I can honestly say that I want to obey God but I haven't received any angelic visitors lately and I can't remember any particular dreams or visions that would instruct me. I know that I have prayer, the Word, the Community of Christ and the Spirit to guide and direct me but that seems a bit abstract, a bit hard to know for certain still. I've never heard an audible voice from the Spirit and the Word certainly gives me the broad principles I am to obey. I guess I just wonder why God doesn't direct my life as clearly as he did Joseph's. Or maybe he is and I just don't see it...
Monday, September 15, 2008
Joseph's obedience
Matthew 2:13-15
I've noticed that, at least in the beginning of Jesus' story, Matthew focuses more on Joseph than on Mary. I wonder if this reflects the paternalistic society that Matthew was writing to - the line of the Messiah must descend through the males and so Matthew emphasizes his paternal lineage.
In this passage, we read again of Joseph and again he is seen as a righteous and obedient man. There doesn't seem to be any questions or objections against what the angel told him. Rather, there is instant obedience. I know that Joseph lived in a culture where dreams, visions and angels were more widely accepted but it is also true that there hadn't been much revelation for centuries and so the appearance of angels wasn't exactly ordinary. Yet Joseph obeys immediately (again) - the words suggest that he didn't wait until morning but immediately got up and began preparations to leave for Egypt.
There are so many reasons not to obey - he's leaving his home country, he's leaving his family, he's leaving his business, everything he's ever known. Plus he has a new family and the message came to him in a dream. So often I justify my own "stuck in a rut" ways because I am afraid to deviate from the path. I would justify my decision and sound very wise and logical but the truth is most of my decisions are based on fear - the fear of the unknown, fear of risk, fear of looking like a fool. God, give me the simple obedience of Joseph.
I've noticed that, at least in the beginning of Jesus' story, Matthew focuses more on Joseph than on Mary. I wonder if this reflects the paternalistic society that Matthew was writing to - the line of the Messiah must descend through the males and so Matthew emphasizes his paternal lineage.
In this passage, we read again of Joseph and again he is seen as a righteous and obedient man. There doesn't seem to be any questions or objections against what the angel told him. Rather, there is instant obedience. I know that Joseph lived in a culture where dreams, visions and angels were more widely accepted but it is also true that there hadn't been much revelation for centuries and so the appearance of angels wasn't exactly ordinary. Yet Joseph obeys immediately (again) - the words suggest that he didn't wait until morning but immediately got up and began preparations to leave for Egypt.
There are so many reasons not to obey - he's leaving his home country, he's leaving his family, he's leaving his business, everything he's ever known. Plus he has a new family and the message came to him in a dream. So often I justify my own "stuck in a rut" ways because I am afraid to deviate from the path. I would justify my decision and sound very wise and logical but the truth is most of my decisions are based on fear - the fear of the unknown, fear of risk, fear of looking like a fool. God, give me the simple obedience of Joseph.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Christmas in September
Matthew 1:18-25
In the first three verses after the genealogy, the Trinity is mentioned: "the birth of Jesus the Messiah", "pregnant through the Holy Spirit", and "angel of the Lord". Of course the divinity of Jesus is one of the big questions that is addressed in his lifetime and beyond but it seems as if Matthew is making it clear that something new happened that involved the whole God-head. It gives the sense that all of heaven is involved in this story.
I think that it is also significant that the Holy Spirit plays such a prominent role in the birth of Christ. I tend to focus more on the Father and the Son and the dynamics of that relationship. I must not forget that the Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the story right from the beginning. I wonder if God knew that the role of the Spirit would be downplayed on the one hand and overly emphasized on the other. It's interesting to me that the Spirit is mentioned at the very beginning of the OT (moving on the surface of the waters) and the very beginning of the NT.
Joseph is also an interesting figure for me that often seems to fade into the background of the story but plays such a unique role. He should really be the hero and example for so many men who are acting as a dad to children who are not his own! What I learn from Joseph in this passage is that even when I do things with as pure motives and with a desire to what is right in terms of the law and what is right in terms of people, I still may be wrong. Joseph's desire was a good one: uphold the law by not marrying Mary but not exposing her to public ridicule or worse. However, his decision was still not the one that God wanted him to make. This gives me comfort at the same time: God did not condemn Joseph for trying to do what was right (even though it was wrong) but revealed to him the right path to take. In my quest to do what is right, I can move forward with confidence knowing that God will correct me where I am wrong.
The second thing I learn from Joseph is the importance of immediate obedience. Joseph has the vision of the angel and, when he wakes up, he does what the angel told him to do. There was no waiting - the very next morning Joseph completes the marriage. I think this is an indication of what Joseph wanted to do and how much he loved and wanted to be with Mary but it is also an indication of his openess to the will of God. Immediate obedience? That's not so much a marker of my life. I wish it was.
In the first three verses after the genealogy, the Trinity is mentioned: "the birth of Jesus the Messiah", "pregnant through the Holy Spirit", and "angel of the Lord". Of course the divinity of Jesus is one of the big questions that is addressed in his lifetime and beyond but it seems as if Matthew is making it clear that something new happened that involved the whole God-head. It gives the sense that all of heaven is involved in this story.
I think that it is also significant that the Holy Spirit plays such a prominent role in the birth of Christ. I tend to focus more on the Father and the Son and the dynamics of that relationship. I must not forget that the Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the story right from the beginning. I wonder if God knew that the role of the Spirit would be downplayed on the one hand and overly emphasized on the other. It's interesting to me that the Spirit is mentioned at the very beginning of the OT (moving on the surface of the waters) and the very beginning of the NT.
Joseph is also an interesting figure for me that often seems to fade into the background of the story but plays such a unique role. He should really be the hero and example for so many men who are acting as a dad to children who are not his own! What I learn from Joseph in this passage is that even when I do things with as pure motives and with a desire to what is right in terms of the law and what is right in terms of people, I still may be wrong. Joseph's desire was a good one: uphold the law by not marrying Mary but not exposing her to public ridicule or worse. However, his decision was still not the one that God wanted him to make. This gives me comfort at the same time: God did not condemn Joseph for trying to do what was right (even though it was wrong) but revealed to him the right path to take. In my quest to do what is right, I can move forward with confidence knowing that God will correct me where I am wrong.
The second thing I learn from Joseph is the importance of immediate obedience. Joseph has the vision of the angel and, when he wakes up, he does what the angel told him to do. There was no waiting - the very next morning Joseph completes the marriage. I think this is an indication of what Joseph wanted to do and how much he loved and wanted to be with Mary but it is also an indication of his openess to the will of God. Immediate obedience? That's not so much a marker of my life. I wish it was.
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